Protest and reaction 1963-72 Flashcards
how did the quest for civil rights change/shift in the years 1963 to 1972
⚫shifted in beliefs from Christian pacifist, assimilationist and integrationist (into white culture) of MLK to a more radical, seperatist, nations of Islam, self defence, Black Power of Malcom X
⚫shifted in aims from early CRM wanted legal equality while Black Power wanted a bigger structural change (social, economic,legal,end to police brutality)
⚫shifted in methods of protest from early CRM doing non violent sit ins and marches to Black power doing violent protests and riots e.g Watts Riots 1965
⚫shifted in later years to become intersectional due to the CRM serving as inspiration for other marginalized groups and due to the Black Power belief in marxism. Examples include women, native americans, latinos
give me SFD for the shift in civil rights movement 1963-72
Early CRM evidence: (for being pacifist)
⚫March on Washington 1963 was one of the largest peaceful protests ever with over 200,000 people
⚫SNCC (Student Non-Violence Coordinating Committee) founded in 1960 and did Freedom Rider protests non violently.
Black Power evidence: (for being radical)
⚫In 1966 SNCC voted to expel all white members
⚫Black Panther Party was founded in 1966 which did armed patrols
⚫Watts Riots LA 1965
intersectional evidence:
⚫N.OW (national organisation of women) created in 1966
⚫Red power (Native American) Movement founded in 1968
To what extent did protest and personal freedom change in the years 1963 to 1972?
Protest: (how did it change)
⚫Became more militant due to slow pace of progress
⚫started to include other ‘marginalised groups’ e.g. women
⚫the increase in university engagement caused them to become centres for protests and activism for students
Personal Freedom:(change?)
⚫counterculture movements challenged traditional societal norms and values and experimented with new lifestyles and drugs
⚫more freedom of expression and speech
give me evidence (SFD) which shows protest and personal freedom changed
Protesting:
⚫Stonewall In riots in 1969
⚫there was a national boycott of California grapes by the Chicano movement
⚫N.O.W created in 1966
Personal Freedom:
⚫birth control legalized in 1972 Eisenstadt v Baird
⚫the desegregation of public places in 1964 civil rights act
⚫casual sex became common as by the mid 1970s a survey of 8 colleges showed that 76% of women and 75% of men had engaged in sexual intercourse by their third year
⚫homosexuality removed of list of mental illnesses in 1973
How successful was LBJ Great Society programme of 1964 to 1968
Overall a success as there were many advancements for blacks, healthcare reforms, environmental conservation and increased education opportunities. However poverty rates did not decrease substantially and factors like political opposition and fiscal constraints limited the success of the Great Society.
give me evidence for success’s of LBJ Great Society
⚫Caused poverty to decline. in US Census, poverty was at 40million in 1959, then 28 million in 1968 and 25 million in 1970.
⚫$1 billion a year was allocated to schools with low income kids. Helped 5 million kids overcome poverty. The provision of university education grew as a result. Literacy Rates increased in the late 60s
⚫19 Million were registered to Medicare programme and Medicare gave half of all over 65 year olds (who did not have healthcare) healthcare
⚫Improved the lives of Blacks as they got legal equality and as a result average black income increased
give me evidence for failures of LBJ Great Society
⚫poverty rates still remained high initially they declined but by the late 1960s they increased slightly and so it did not achieve the desired level of poverty reduction
⚫urban unrest due racial inequality and urban poverty despite the great society efforts in cities like LA and Detroit showed that the Great society did not benefit everyone
⚫created a culture of welfare dependency
⚫political opposition from conservatives limited the scope and effectiveness of The Great Society due to the congress system
⚫high fiscal costs of the programs limited the ability of the Great Society programs
How important were reactions to counterculture in the years 1968 to 1972
⚫There was a political backclash from the silent majority who opposed and feared the challenging of traditional values by counterculture movements and this fear was capitalized on by politicians like Richard Nixon who promised to bring back order and traditional values
⚫there was cultural and generational polarization and division due to counterculture
⚫media representation often over exaggerated the extent of counterculture and highlighted its more controversial aspects which contributed to public reaction and opinions
⚫restrictive policies were introduced to stop counterculture such as the Anti-Riot Act 1968 which aimed to stop anti war protests
